Removing the barriers to get aviation flying again

It is vital that the next review by the Global Travel Taskforce (GTT) takes account of the progress that has been made in the rollout of vaccines. So far, the government’s policy has remained characterised by an abundance of caution – but the UK cannot any longer be first on vaccines but last on reopening international travel.

The CBI has set out our recommendations to the GTT as it approaches its next checkpoint. Now is the time to move boldly, overhaul the existing system of restrictions and simplify international travel.

The GTT should recommend that the government:

• Immediately overhauls the current traffic light system, replacing it with a two-tier system that prioritises vaccination status as the key determinant of restrictions and testing requirements.
• Takes further action on testing, including a wholesale review of testing costs and removing the need for PCR tests for double-vaccinated passengers travelling to unrestricted countries.
• Reviews the measures in place to mitigate queues at the border, providing UK Border Force with additional resources for as long as the COVID-19 situation persists, to ensure that border checks take place as efficiently as possible.
• Pushes strongly for greater reciprocity between the UK and other countries with similar levels of vaccination, ensuring that UK travellers are allowed entry, and that NHS-certified vaccines are recognised by their destination country.

If you would like to discuss our work on international connectivity in further detail, please contact the CBI’s transport policy lead, Nick Jessup.